Milford leek orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Milford leek orchid |
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The Milford leek orchid (scientific name: Prasophyllum milfordense) is a special type of orchid that grows only in Tasmania, Australia. It has a single, dark green leaf shaped like a tube. Its flowers are greenish-brown, white, and purplish. This orchid is very rare, with only about 240 plants found in just one place.
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What the Milford Leek Orchid Looks Like
The Milford leek orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root. It has one dark green leaf that looks like a tube. This leaf can be about 30 to 65 centimeters (12 to 26 inches) long. It is about 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) wide near its reddish-purple bottom.
This orchid grows between five and thirty flowers on a tall stem. The stem can be 6 to 22 centimeters (2.4 to 8.7 inches) long. The flowers are greenish-brown, white, and purplish. Each flower is about 8 to 10 millimeters (0.31 to 0.39 inches) wide.
Like other leek orchids, its flowers are upside down. This means the special lower petal, called the labellum, is actually above the center part of the flower. The top petal, called the dorsal sepal, is greenish-brown with darker stripes. It is about 7 to 8 millimeters (0.28 to 0.31 inches) long. The side petals are also greenish-brown and are about the same length.
The other petals are white with green or purple marks. The labellum is white and turns sharply upwards in the middle. It has slightly wavy edges. There is also a thick, green, grooved part in its center. These orchids usually bloom from late October to early December.
How the Milford Leek Orchid Got Its Name
The Milford leek orchid was officially named Prasophyllum milfordense in 1998. It was named by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of the plant near a place called Cambridge. The name milfordense comes from the name of the private property where this special orchid was found.
Where the Milford Leek Orchid Lives
The Milford leek orchid grows in grassy areas near Hobart, Tasmania. This area usually gets less rain than other parts of Tasmania.
Protecting the Milford Leek Orchid
The Milford leek orchid is very rare. It is only found in a small part of one private property. In 2012, experts thought there were only about 240 plants left. In some dry years, even fewer plants are seen.
Because it is so rare, this orchid is listed as "Endangered" under Tasmania's Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. It is also listed as "Critically Endangered" by the Australian government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act.
The main dangers to these orchids are:
- Rabbits eating the plants.
- Land being cleared for other uses.
- Fires happening at the wrong times.
- Changes in how much rain the area gets.
